Theory behind US Government?

Social Contract

When People are the source of Power?

Popular Sovereignty

A Government based upon rule of law?

Limited Government

Division of power between State and

National Government?

Federal Government

Rule by the Many?

Democracy

Rule by one or a Few?

Dictatorship

Two Types of Democracy

•Direct•Indirect (representatives)

What part of the Constitution expresses popular sovereignty?

Preamble

Three Branches of Government?

•Legislative (make)•Executive (enforce)•Judicial (interpret)

What keeps branches from becoming too

powerful?

•Separation of Powers

•Checks and Balances

Separation of Powers

•Legislative•Executive

•Judicial

Powers given only to National Government

Exclusive Powers(coin money, declare

war)

These powers create most conflict between St.

and Nat. Government.

Implied Powers(not expressly written

in the Constitution)

Electoral Votes Needed

270

When are electoral votes cast?

December of election year--

counted in January.

Steps to become President

•Primary/Caucus•National Conventions•General Election•Electoral Vote

Total # of Electors?

538

Minimum electors from each State?

3(two senators + # of

representatives)

A Party Election is

called what?

Primary

Purpose of National Convention?

•Nominate Pres./VP. Candidates

• Choose Party Platform

A simple majority?

50% + 1

PARTY MEETINGS ARE CALLED?

CAUCUSES

When the candidate receives the majority of

the popular vote in a state?

Winner-take-all

Who runs most campaigns?

Candidate and his/her staff

What happens if no one wins enough electoral votes?

•The House selects President

•The Senate selects

Vice President

T/F Popular vote winner can lose

election•Electoral Vote winner, wins election--candidates must win in states that have most electoral votes

Voting Requirements in Texas

•18 years old, US citizen•registered 30 days prior to election

•resident of state and county

Number of Texas Electors

34(2 Senators + 32 Representatives)

An example of a Presidential check on

Congress

•Veto•Pocket Veto

Congressional checks on President

•override veto (2/3 vote)

•Senate refuses to ratify an presidential nominee or a treaty

Essays written to encourage

ratification of the Constitution

Federalist Papers

The Ultimate Umpire?

Supreme Court

Supreme Court check on Congress and the President

Judicial Review

The Elastic Clause

Necessary and Proper Clause that supports Implied Powers of our

government

Formal Amendment Process

•Proposal (by Congress)

•Ratification (by States)

How are most changes in our Government

made?

Informally--by custom and tradition; political party practices; Supreme Ct. decisions and acts of

Congress and the President

The two Major Political Parties

•Democratic Party

•Republican Party

Roles of Minor Parties

•Critics•Innovators

•Spoilers

Role of Party “out of power”

Watchdog

An Organization with a focused opinion on a

single topic

Special Interest Group

One Trend in Voting

Split Ticket Voting

Main Source of Political Information

Television

This group favors extreme change

Radicals

This group believes government should be active in change

Liberals

Motto of Liberals

•Freedom over Order

•Equality over Economic Freedom

This groups favors “status quo”

Conservatives

Conservative Motto

•Order over Freedom

•Eco. Freedom over Equality

A belief that women are more likely to

favor Dem. over Rep.

Gender Gap

Special Interest Group that is

opposed to gun control

NRA

Pork Barrel Politics

When members of Congress get

federal funds for projects in their own

districts

Drawing of district lines to favor the party

or race in power

Gerrymandering

Talking a Bill to Death

Filibuster

Taking care of constituents’

needs

Casework

Political Arms of special interest groups used to raise

campaign money

PACs

Committee used to settle differences of

the two houses

Conference Committee

What type of bill must start in the House of Rep.?

Money Bills

Which house is based on

population?

House of Representatives

How many members are in

the House of Representatives?

435

Which house has equal

representation?

Senate

This means “two houses”

Bicameralism

Minimum # or Reps. from each

State?

One

To bring charges against an official in

government

Impeach

Why do incumbents have an advantage?

•more campaign money

•better known

Main Function of Congress?

Lawmaking

Presidential Term

4years; can be elected 2xs--

total ten years

Hierarchical arrangement of

government doing specialized tasks

Bureaucracy

Protections under 1st Amendment•free speech•freedom of religion•freedom of press•free to assemble and petition

Separation of Church and State

Establishment Clause

Reading of your rights

Miranda Rights

When illegal evidence is thrown

out of court

Exclusionary Rule

Case that ended Segregation

Brown vs Board of Education in

Topeka, Kansas

Term of a federal judge

Life

Methods used to prevent African

Americans from voting

•literacy tests•poll taxes•grandfather clauses•white primaries